Transport options in your local area
Parents need to be given clear and concise advice regarding transport available to your school for their child. By having prior knowledge of the transport options available in your local area you will be able to provide timely information on the nearest bus, tram or train lines and the routes taken to get to your school.
It is important that your school has a formal communication process that provides parents with the available transport options. It is also important that you ensure this information is given to them in a timely manner. For example, this information may be included with the enrolment form, or be given to parents as part of the enrolment process. Or it could be given to parents as part of an information night; or could be included in your 'attending our school' packages.
Walking or cycling to school is a great way to get a healthy start to the day. It can also be a good opportunity to teach children about traffic safety. You could look at offering some special programs that enhances the safety aspects of walking or cycling to school.
For more information on the Victorian Public Transport, see viclink's: Journey Planner
School bus network
An extensive school bus network supplies free bus transport to students living in regional Victoria, a small number of bus networks also operate in some outer metropolitan Melbourne suburbs where public transport options are limited.
The school bus network is administered by the Department of Transport and carries over 73,000 students each school day on approximately 1,600 school bus routes. For more information about the school bus network, see the Department of Transport's: School Buses
Principals should also inform parents whether the school bus will be free or a fare will be charged. This will depend on eligibility of the individual student.
The Procedural Guidelines for Contract School Bus Services in Rural and Regional Victoria are designed to assist principals and other school staff members in managing safe and efficient school bus services. This document is also a resource for contractors, parents and bus passengers. For more information, see: Procedural Guidelines Contract School Bus Services in Rural and Regional Victoria (PDF - 1.1Mb)
Travel to special school settings
Students attending special schools or special developmental schools may be eligible for transport support usually in the form of access to a bus or conveyance allowance.
To be eligible for travel support, students must reside within the designated transport area of the school that they attend. Transport networks do not extend beyond the designated transport area so students residing in other areas will need to arrange independent travel if they wish to attend a specific location.
Special schools provide advice to students and parents/caregivers on the transport support available to through their school.
In many cases students and families accessing bus services should be prepared to contribute towards a collaborative arrangement. On many occasions it will be necessary to meet a bus at a pick-up point to assist with service efficiency and minimize travel time for all students.
Conveyance allowance
In some locations, students are unable to access free school buses. In these instances, students may receive a conveyance allowance to assist with travel costs. Allowances are available for public transport, private car and private bus.
To determine a student’s eligibility for conveyance allowance for 2013, see:
If students are eligible, parents will need to complete a relevant application form. Application forms are to be completed by parents and lodged at the school.
2013 application forms:
Schools are required to submit conveyance claims electronically to the Department each term. In order to increase efficiencies in data collection and processing of payments only electronic claim forms will be accepted.
The claim deadlines for 2013 are:
Claim period |
Claim submission closing date |
Estimated pay run date |
|---|
Term 1 |
01/03/2013 |
14/03/2013 |
Term 2 |
31/05/2013 |
14/06/2013 |
Term 3 |
23/08/2013 |
06/09/2013 |
Term 4 |
08/11/2013 |
29/11/2013 |
Some schools are unable to be provided with access to SCAS and should continue to claim using the spread sheet:
Please contact the Family Payments Unit (FPU) if you have any questions regarding Conveyance Allowance at conveyance@edumail.vic.gov.au
For information on the Student Allowance Conveyance System (SCAS), see: Student Conveyance Allowance System (SCAS)
For more information on the Victorian Public Transport Concession Card, see: Public Transport Victoria's (PTV) Travelling with Student Concessions
Further information
For further assistance and advice, please e-mail student.transport@edumail.vic.gov.au